Astros report: Lo, Fields turn closer role into two-man job

The Astros’ closer-by-committee has officially become a two-person committee of righthanded rookies Josh Fields and Chia-Jen Lo.

“I’ll fluctuate between (Lo and Fields) based on the workload previously leading up to that game,” manager Bo Porter said. “But it’s a good option to have both of those guys pitching well.”

Porter said he would use a closer-by-committee after Jose Veras was traded to the Detroit Tigers on July 29.

Lo, who was called up from Class AA Corpus Christi on July 30, earned his first major league save Tuesday against Oakland. Fields, who picked up his first career save on Aug. 5 against Boston, earned his second save on Wednesday.

Lo was warming up in anticipation of another save situation Friday night before Chris Carter hit a three-run homer and Matt Dominguez followed with another homer in the top of the ninth to go ahead 8-2 and end the save situation.

Lo has been plagued by injuries during his minor league career, which is why he had only 70 appearances (five as a starter) since signing with the Astros in 2009. Because of Lo’s injury history, Porter intends to use him whenever he warms up.

Carter stays calm despite struggles

A day after setting a career high and becoming the first Astros designated hitter to collect five RBIs, Chris Carter downplayed the performance.

“I don’t look at goals like that,” he said. “I just want to have good at-bats and make solid contact. It would be great if I could do that (consistently), but it’s not a realistic goal.”

Carter’s demeanor has remained steady throughout the season, whether he had success at the plate or the multiple strikeouts that paved his way to the franchise record for strikeouts in a season.

He entered the second game of the three-game series against the Angels leading the Astros in home runs (23) and RBIs (61).

“Given the number of strikeouts in which he has had, a person that has a different demeanor probably would not be able to handle it the way in which he’s handled it,” manager Bo Porter. “I more so look at the reaction the next day.

“He comes to the park the next day and you wouldn’t know whether he was 4-for-4 or 0-for-4 because he works the same. From a manager’s standpoint, I think that actually helps him.”

Outfielders enjoy getting defensive

With left fielder Robbie Grossman, center fielder Brandon Barnes and right fielder L.J. Hoes playing exceptional defense, manager Bo Porter isn’t likely to use Chris Carter in the outfield the rest of the season.

Carter has started 36 games at left field, 31 at first base and 38 at designated hitter.

“It’s good to have the flexibility on your roster knowing that (Carter) can do it,” Porter said. “But when he was playing the outfield earlier in the year our roster construction was totally different. You look at the construction that we have now, I like the fact that we have three guys out there that actually have the capabilities of playing center field and have the range of the center fielders.